Defense Update: U.S. Navy, ‘Guarding the World’s Waters’

Events of October 1962 indicated, as they had all through history, that control of the sea means security. Control of the seas can mean peace. Control of the seas can mean victory. The United States must control the seas if it is to protect your security…(President John F. Kennedy, 1963)

Sailors and Marines and their friends and family watch an air show from the weather decks aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). Makin Island and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are underway on a Tiger Cruise in the U.S. 3rd Fleet Area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daniel J. Walls)

Arabian Sea:

Command Master Chief Rafael Perez mans a fire hose during a general quarters drill aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21). New York is part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with the embarked 24th Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) and is deployed supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zane Ecklund)

East China Sea:

USS McCampbell (DDG 85) moves into formation during a trilateral exercise in the East China Sea. The U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Republic of Korea navy ships are participating in the exercise to improve interoperability, readiness and the capability to respond quickly to various situations in the region, ranging from disaster relief to maritime security activities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul Kelly)

Gulf of Aden:

A Sailor directs an SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter as it prepares to shut down after landing aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94). Nitze is deployed as part of Enterprise Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Atherton)

Gulf of Oman:

An MH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) delivers cargo to the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) during a vertical replenishment. Porter is deployed as part of Enterprise Carrier Strike Group to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alex Forster/)

South China Sea:

Sailors participate in a physical training session in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka on May 26 to begin its 2012 patrol. George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Brian H. Abel)

Strait of Malacca:

Sailors assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 and Royal Malaysian navy divers bring up a U.S. Navy diver to the Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) during a wreck and salvage training event as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Timor Leste joins CARAT for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class N. Ross Taylor)

Yeah, and China whose prosperity, whose whole business model, depends on trade over open sea lanes gets a free ride.

Rcoutme

Not really; they are ramping up their navy. They don’t like the fact that the Japanese and U.S. navies are the rulers of the seas.

slamfu

Well good luck with that. For some reason we have 11 carrier battle groups to help us rule the seas. The rest of the world, many of whose fleets are allied with ours, has a mere 8 carrier battle groups. Their best bet is to not spend on military and invest in their industrial base and infrastructure until their economy overtakes ours while we waste about $800Bn on military per year, at least $400Bn of it we don’t really need. If I were China, that’s what I would do. Oh wait, that is exactly what they are doing.